Self-heated thermos bottle



United States Patent [72} lnventors Leonard Trachtenberg; 3,423,571 H1969 Trachtenberg et al 219/441 Peter Warren Trachtenberg, Pleasant tPrzmary ExammerVo1odymyr Y. Mayewsky valley west Orange 07052Attorney-Polacheck and Saulsbury [21] Appl. No. 819,563

[22] Filed Apr. 28, 1969 1 Patented 22,1970 ABSTRACT: A self-heatingthermos bottle having a bottom compartment closed by a cover base and inwhich is disposed in cable either on a reel or folded up when not inuse. The cable is provided with contact plugs adapted to be fitted into[54] SELEHEATED THERMOS BO-ITLE either a vehicle cigar lighterreceptacle or household recepta- 10 Claims, 15 Drawing Se cle to supplyeither DC current or AC current to low or high voltage coils of a heaterunit within the bottle and having a [52] US. Cl. t. 219/441, threadedStem extending into the Cable compartment for the 215/131219/387,219/437, 219/541 mounting of parts thereon. A plug is carried by a cablereel [51 Int. Cl. F27d 11/02 which is axially adjustably Supported onthe depending Stem of [50] Field ofselrch 219/438- the heater unit todisconnect plug and allow the reel to b 435-7, 428, 4321248311; turnedfor release or windup of cable. A thermostatic switch is 2 2/ 5 2 /1 t9. 17: 215/12. 13 included in the heater unit and plug circuitry. Thedisconnect plug is attachable to a plug carried on a bottom partition. A

[56] References cued special socket has been provided into which eithera cigar UNITED STATES PATENTS lighter plug or a household plug can beconnected. Also multi- 2,277,605 3/1942 Palitzsch 219/436X ple plugreceptacles have been provided on a bottom partition 2,601,573 6/1952Venis 215/13 and wired to the heater unit and adapted to receive eitherthe 2,632,618 3/1953 Griglak 248/311 vehicle lighter plug or thehousehold plug on respective op- 3,319,048 5/1967 Wells 219/441 positeends ofa'cable.

PATENTEDBE022|970 I 5 6 SHEET 1 BF 4 I leeward fiachfenbery 1% Fe 1e rLWQWEW Wadi renberg, INVENTORS.

Magma? PATENIEU 05022 I970 SHEET 2 UF 4 #5 Leonard Wachfenbem 4- Peferwarrenfiachfehberg WENTORS PATENTEDnEc22l9m SHEET nor 4 Leonard Traclzfenbery v Pefer Warren Trachfenberg Y INVENTOR5.

ATTURA/[Yf It is the principal object of the present invention toprovide a self-heated thermos bottle which can receive its source ofelectric current from either-a cigar lighter outlet on a dashboard of avehicle or from a household electric receptacle.

It is another object of this invention to provide a self-heated thermosbottle adapted to receive electric current from either a-vehicle batteryor household receptacle in which a single electric cable can be adaptedfor use from either source by merely reversing the ends of the cablebetween the bottle and the electric source receptacle with the terminalfor either a DC or AC type of receptacle adapted to be received in thebottle to supply current toeither a DC or AC heating coil thereof. i

' It is another object of the invention to provide in a selfheatedthermos bottle, a reel for the coiling of the cable when not in use intothe bottom of the bottle in which connection means is provided betweenthe reel and the bottom of the bot- .tle that willbe disconnected whencoiling the cable upon the reel, the reel being axially adjustable upona depending stem and engageable with a positioning stud to preventturning and destruction to the connection meansupon attempting to turnthe reel without the axially lowering the reel to-break the connectionofthe reel cable with the heater coil terminals in the bottom of thebottle.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a selfheatedthermos bottle adapted tohave an electric cable reel axially slidableupon a depending bottom stem to plug the cable into connection with theheater-coil in which the cable has on its outer terminal a multiple-typeplug for connection withreither a vehicle cigar lighter outletfor AChouse receptacle and the bottom construction of the bottle cable reelcompartment being such that after opening the cover base and removingthe plugterminal and cable therefrom and replacing the cover, the bottlewill be provided with a base upon which it ca'nbe stood upright on atable top surface, the cable passing through aligned side notches of thebase and the side of the bottle.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a self-heated thermosbottle adapted for connection with either a vehicle cigar lighterreceptacle or a household receptacle having a compartment in the bottomof the bottle for containing the I .cable when not in use in which theheater coils are wired to a solitary socket terminal means adapted toreceive either a cigar lighter type of plug on one end of the cable or atwopronged electric. receptacle plug provided on the other end of thecable, the plug receptacle .beingwired to DC AC coils of the heaterunit.

[t is a still further object of the invention to provide dual DC and ACself-contained heating unit for self-heated thermos bottles that can bereadily installed in the bottle and which has a depending stern servingto secure the heating unit to the bottomof the bottle that may alsoserve for a connection ofa thermostat, cable reel and other parts of thebottle structure.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a self-heated thermos bottleconstructed according to one form of the invention,

having a cable reel with a plug connector to disconnect the cablevfromthe bottom of the bottle to allow th'e r eel to rotate to wind or unwindthe cable but in which the reel 'i's' forced upwardly to make the plugconnectionwith the heater coil when the bottle is tobe heated.

FIG.- 2 is a side elevational view of the DC an'd'AC heater unitshowingthe coils wound upon the inner porcelain or insulating cylinder of theheating unit and the depending attaching and other parts supporting theshaft.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary and vertical sectional'elevational view of theheating unit showing the heater coils disposed between the porcelaincylinder and a cap-shaped covering sleeve providing the closed exteriorof the heating unit.

- cigar lighter plug terminal to be plugged-thereinto and for. the

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a thermostatic switch element wired intorelation with the heater coils to limit the supply of current thereto.and of the depending stud of the heater unit on which the, thermostaticswitch' is, carried.

from the heater coil terminals and a multiple type plug e igtending fromthe bottle with ,the cable extending through the open lower end of thebottle and base;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view I i p P s FIG. 7 is a perspective view; ofminal without the guard. j 7

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the cable reel removed from the reelcompartment at the bottom of the heater bottle and showing the plugreceptacle thereon with illustration as to the making of the connectionof the reel with the triple-prong plug depending from the heater unit.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a selfheated thermosbottle constructed according to a modified form ofthe invention in whichthe cable reel in the cable compartment is dispensed with and a cablehaving a different type of plug on each of the opposite ends thereof isused with a solitary receptacle depending into the cable compartmentfrom the heater unit and that is adapted to receive either type plugterminal. K g

FIG. 10 is a collective wiring diagram of the DC and AC heater coils andsolitary plug receptacle and of the cable and the plugs thereof and withthe pronged plug of the cable being arranged for insertion into thesolitary receptacle as when the heater unit is adapted for receivingpower from a vehicle dashboard DC cigar lighter receptacle.

FIG. 11 is a collective diagrammatic view of the solitary heater coilplug receptacle and of the cable adapted for the thernultiple-type plugterheater to receive its current from a household receptacle.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the cable and of the different typeplugs on opposite ends thereof.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary and sectional view of a self-heated thermosbottle constructed according to another modified form of the invention,without thereel and instead of having a common plug receptacle in thecable compartment, two separate receptacles are provided for the cableplugs.

FIG. 14 is afragmentary bottom perspective view of the receptaclesupporting plate in the bottom of the bottle removedt therefrom and ofthe cable with illustration being made of the connection of the cableplugs therewith as when the cable is not in use and in the manner inwhich it is adapted to be folded into the compartment in the bottom ofthe bottle. FIG. 15 is a wiring diagram of the multiple plug receptaclearrangement of FIG. 13. l

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 8, there is generally shown aself-heated; thermos bottle indicated generally at 20 having a heaterunit 22, a thermostatic switch 24 and wired connection therewith, acable reel compartment v 26 mounted with a cable reel 28 therein forrotation upon a I I stem extension 30 of the heater unit 22 and foraxial adjust ment with respect thereto for engagementofa reel plugrecepi tacle 32 with heater'coil plug terminals 34, opposing handles 36and 38 depend from the reel andserving to turn the reel upon thedepending stem 30to coillthe cable 39 when the reel 28 is free fromengagement of itsreceptacle 32 with the pronged terminal 34 in bottompartition 40 of the bottle.

The partition 40 has a depending rotational polarizing stop 42 adaptedto enter opening 44bit thereel 28 when the reel is centered forreceivingthe -plug receptacle 32 and the prongs of the bottom.wallterminal 3 4,.- n A stop screw 46 is provided on the lower end ofthe stem exf tension 30 10 limit the downward movement of the reel an dwhile winding the cable upon the reel 28 or removing the cable therefromfor connection'of the cable with an outside plug receptacle. A removablecover cap base 4.8 is provided with a friction tight flange 50 having aslot 52 adapted tobe the guard for the mti iibialigned with a slot, notshown, but at the lower end of the cable compartment 26 so that thecable can extend outwardly therethrough and the bottom cap 48 can serveas base for the support of the bottle on a table top surface.

The thermos bottle comprises an inner shell 56 open at its upper end andformed of metal or glass and having a bottom wall 58 with an opening 59therein. The heating coil unit 22 is provided with an external flange 60and a drop portion 62 depending through the opening 59. The bottom faceof the flange 60 is adhered to the top face of the bottom wall 58in a anally tight fitted flange 50 of bottom cap base 48. The bottom partition40 is removably secured by screws 68 to a flanged ring 69 secured to theinner face of the outer wall 68.

The upper end of the outer wall 68 is mounted to provide a threadedportion 70 to receive a cover'cap 72 housing a plurality of drinkingcups 74. From thethreaded portion 70 of the outer wall extends inwardlyat 76 over the insulating material 66 and has an upwardly externallythreaded portion 78 encompassing and secured to the open end of theinner shell 56. This threaded portion 78 receives an internally threadedclosure cap 80 to contain the contents within chamber 82 having theheater unit 22. The cap 80 is preferably removed when heating of thecontents in the chamber 82 is being done.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3. the heating unit 22 isprovided with an inner porcelain or insulating wall 84 on which an uppercoil 86 of heavy ampere l2-volt Nichrome wire is disposed providing atits upper end a terminal end 88 connected by a lead 89 dependingtherefrom and having a terminal 90 adapted to be connected to thepronged terminal 34 on the bottom partition 40. A terminal 92 on thelower end of coil 86 is connected in common with the upper end of a lowamperage, lZO-volt wire coil 94 on the inner porcelain wall 84 andprovided at its lower end with a terminal 96 from which a lead 97extends witha terminal 98 for connection with the pronged terminal 34.

The common terminal 92 is connected by a lead wire 100 and terminal 101-with the pronged terminal 34 through a thermostatic switch 24 and a leadwire 102 connected with the third terminal of the pronged terminal 34 onthe partition Wall 40. The heating wire coils 86 and 94 arecovered by anexternal outer porcelain or insulating wall 104 and the heating coilsare finally covered by a metal closure cap 106 that engages in a liquidtight manner the top face of the flange 60 of the heater unit.

The heater unit has depending from its lower end a threaded mountingstud 108 that depends through the center of the partition 40 for theconnection thereto of the cable reel stem 30. The thermostatic switch 24is carried upon the depending threaded stud 108 and is held in closeengagement therewith to receive heat from the stud and heater unit 22 byan L- shaped bracket 110 carried on the stud 108 and adapted to forcethe thermostat into heat transfer engagement with the underface of theheater drop portion 62 by a threaded nut 112 screwed upwardly on thestud 108.

The cable reel 28 comprises a top plate 114 and a bottom plate 116 heldtogether by circumferentially-spaced rods 118 and a central sleeve 120that is slidable and rotatable upon the stem 30. The top plate 114carries the plug receptacle 32 with its three openings therein forreceiving the pronged terminals of the lug 34 carried by the bottompartition 40. The cable 39 is connected to the plug receptacle 32 at 124and can be wound upon the spacing rods 118 and between the top andbottom plates 114 of the reel 116 as the reel 28 is turned by itshandles 36 and 38. This rotation of thereel is effected when the reel ispulled downwardly against the screw stop 46 on the stem 30 with thecable 122 aligned with. the slot in the lower end of the outer casing 68and the slot 52 in the cover base 48. After the cable 39 has beenreleased for connection with a current-supply receptacle, the reel 28 isthrust inwardly to connect the receptacle 32 of the reel with thepronged terminal 34 and the depending polarizing stop 42 in the slot 44in the top plate 114 of the reel 28. v

In order that the cable 122 can be connected with either a vehicle cigarlighter receptacle or a household wall receptacle, a specialmultiple-type plug l26 has been provided. This plug is provided with acigar lighter plug formation 128 having a single center contactprojection 130fand a side spring contact 132 and angled therefrom is awall receptacle projection 134 having depending contact prongs 136 and138.

In order that these contacts that'are not being used, yet bearingcurrent, are not exposed when the plug is connected to its receptacle, agenerally triangular-shaped guard 140 of plastic has the plug 126pivotally connected to pins 142 and 144 extending respectively throughholes 146, 146 at the opposite sides of the guard 140. The pins 142, 144preferably tightly fit the holes, 146, 146 in order-that the multipleplug 126 will be frictionally and firmly held in its adjusted positionrelative to the guard 140. The cable 122 passes through an elongatedslot 148 in an arcuate end closure 150 having laterally extending wingextensions 152, 153. The outer end of the guard 140 is closed by anarcuate wall 154 which prevents access to the outer ends of the contactterminals of the plug 126. As shown in FIG. 5, the plug 126 is adjustedrelative to the guard 140 to expose the vehicle lighter receptacle inthe dashboard of the vehicle. When the plug 126 is pivoted so that theportion is within the guard 140. the pronged household plug projection134 is exposed for engagement with the wall receptacle in the household.v 7

Referring now to FIGS. 9 to 12, there is shown a modified form of theinvention in which the reel is dispensed with and wherein a cable havinga plug 162 adapted for insertion in a vehicle dashboard cigar lighterreceptacle on end end and on the other end of the cable a pronged plugterminal 164 adapted for insertion in a household wall receptacle.

The threaded stem 108 depends from the heater unit 22 and through asleeve 165 that depends. through bottom partition 40' forconnectionthereto of an especially-formed double plug receptacle 166. The sleeve165 has an inwardly turned flange 165' on its lower end against which aflange 166 on the receptacle is forced as the receptacle threaded on thestem 108, the receptacle having a threaded opening for receiving thesame. The cable 160 can be coiled and placed intothe compartment 26 andheld therein by the cover base 48 tightly fitted by its flange 50 intothe open end of the outer wall 68.;

The special receptacle 166 has alead 88' connected to a terminal 168within the receptacle 166 and the terminal lead 96' from the highvoltage heating coil 94 is connected to a central terminal 170 in thereceptacle 166. A common lead 100' extends through a thermostatic switch24 which is connected by a lead wire 172 that is connected to a U-shapedterminal 174 and a ring terminal 176. The terminals 168 and 174 receiveprongs 178 and 180 of terminal 164 of the cable 160.

As shown in FIG. 11, when the plug terminal 162 is inserted into thedouble plug receptacle 166, central and ring terminals 182 and 184 willrespectively engage receptacle central terminal 170 and ring terminal176 to deliver when the pronged plug 162 is inserted into a householdreceptacle, alternating household current to the high voltage-heatingcoil 94.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 to 15, there is shown a further modified formof the invention'w'herein the leads from the heating coils arerespectively extended to vehicle lighter and pronged receptacles and 192carried by a bottom partition 40'. The plug receptacle 190 has laterallyextending lugs 194 and 196 that are secured by screws 198 and 200 to theplate 40' to hold receptacle 190 in place therein. The receptacle 190 isthat of a vehicle lighter receptacle and has a contact ring 202 and acentral contact sleeve 20.4 respectively connected by leads 206 and 208through thermostatic switch 24 to high voltage heating coil 94. With theplug 164 secured to household wall receptacle, alternating electriccurrent will be delivered to the heater coil 94.

The pronged plug receptacle 192 has side projections 210 and 212 thatare connected by respective screws 214 and 216 to the bottom partition40 to retain the receptacle 192 thereon. A nut 217 is secured to thebottom partition 40 for securement of partition 40 to stem 108 of theheater unit 22 to retain the heater unit in place.

This receptacle 192 has U-shaped contacts 218 and 220 for respectivelyreceiving prongs 178 and 180 of the terminal plug 164 on cable 160. TheU-shaped contact 218 is connected by lead 222 to common wire 206,thermostat switch 24 and central lead 100' to terminal end 92 of lowvoltage coil 86 while contact terminal 220 of receptacle 192 isconnected by wire 224 to terminal end 88 of low voltage coil 86. Thus,upon plug 162 being secured to a vehicle lighter receptacle and thepronged plug 164 connected to the receptacle 192, electric current fromthe vehicle battery will be supplied to the low voltage heater coil 86.

The cable 160 having the different plugs 162 and 164 can be used, likewith the form shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, by simply removing the cover base48 and taking the cable from the compartment 26 and make the connectionof the plugs as desired to the available electric receptacles. The coverbase 48 can be refitted to close the compartment while the cable 160extends therefrom through slots 52 shown in FIG. 1 and support thebottle upon a table top surface.

We claim:

1. A self-heated hermetically sealed thermos bottle comprising an innershell having a bottom wall and a removable closure cap closing the openupper end thereof, an outer casing extending about the shell and heatinsulated therefrom, a cover cap removably fitted to the open upper endof the outer casing, an electric heater unit resting on the bottom wallof the inner shell and depending therethrough, said outer casing havinga bottom compartment, a coverbase removably fitted to the open end ofthe bottom compartment to close the same and serve as a support for thethermos bottle upon a top surface, a bottom partition secured in spacedrelation from the bottom wall of the inner shell within the outercasing, electric plug means carried by the bottom partition and wired incircuitry with the heater unit, and a cable cord having plug terminalson the opposite ends of the cable, at least one said plug terminal beingdetachable from the electric plug carried upon the bottom partition andwithin the compartment.

2. A self-heated thermos bottle as defined in claim 1, and a threadedstem depending from the heater unit, and means threaded upon the stemand engaging the partition to hold the heater unit in place upon thebottom of the inner shell and the partition thereagainst.

3. A self-heated thermos bottle as defined in claim 2, and a cable reelmounted for rotation upon the depending stem of the heater unit, saidreel carrying one plug of the cable and rotatable and axially adjustableupon the stem for engagement with and disengagement from the electricplug means carried by the bottom partition wall.

4. A self-heated thermos bottle as defined in claim 3, and said bottompartition having a depending polarizing and centering projection for thecable reel to align the plug terminals carried by the bottom partitionandthe reel, said cable reel having a recess for receiving thepolarizing and centering projection.

5. A self-heated thermos bottle as defined in claim 1, and athermostatic switch and means for securing the same to said stem and inheat exchange relationship with the heater unit.

6. A self-heated thermos bottle as defined in claim 1, and said heaterunit having low and high voltage heating coils and wired to saidelectric plug means to include a common cable wire to fit the other ofthe cable plug terminals having one projection with terminals forfitting a vehicle cigar lighter receptacle and another plug projectionhaving terminals for fitting a household rece tacle.

7. A self-hea ed thermos bottle as defined in claim 6, and a guardpivotally connected to the plug and adapted to enclose either plugprojection when not in use.

8. Aself-heated thermos bottle as defined in claim 2, and said electricplug means being in the form of a solitary plug adapted to receiveeither a cigar lighter plug or a pronged terminal plug, said solitaryplug being threaded upon the depending stem of the heater unit andserving as the holder means to tighten the heater unit onto the bottomwall of the inner shell by tight engagement with the bottom partition.

9. A self-heated thermos bottle as defined in claim 7, said heater unithaving low and high voltage heater coils and said plug receptaclemounted on the heater stem having pairs of terminal contacts wired tothe different heating coils to conduct either battery current orhousehold current to one or the other of the heating coils.

10. A self-heated thermos bottle as defined in claim 1, and said bottompartition carrying two separate types of receptacles, said heating unithaving low and high voltage heater coils separately wired respectivelyto the different plug type receptacles on the bottom partition.

